Unheard Voices

Update: Our sources are confirming that Mehedi Hasan has been released today (sunday, feb 3rd) after intense pressure from various lobbying groups.

Bangladesh’s image on human rights violation is taking a huge beating worldwide. No thanks to activities such as the arrest of US based activist Mehedi Hasan.

“U.S. rights worker arrested” is the headline of Washington Times. While organizations like Labor behind label, War on Want etc have gone all out with their lobbying power, its hard to fathom how arresting rights activist in suspect charges can help government’s image for good governence and upholding of human rights.

The charge against Mehedhi Hasan is of “instigating workers’ unrest” in Bangladesh. Now how can we prove someone from a little known NGO in Washington DC can come to Dhaka for a few weeks and instigate all the workers is beyond me. But the government propaganda machine New Nation says the following:

Mehedi reportedly confessed to interrogators that he used to collect information about workers’ problems and send the information through E-mail to the WRC headquarters in Washington DC

Now what’s their to confess about, its not clear about sending your boss email report on your visit? So what does this organization WRC do? They are basically an organization which investigates for its clients whether different brands across the world are getting clothings from compliant factories. Their client base is mostly about 178 universities in the USA who let NIKE and GAP use their university name at the exchange of a sponsorship fee. From reading about them in the web, it seems WRC sends in its field workers to gather data from the ground. If that is the case, then its hard to fathom what was the crime in this supposed confession by Mehedi Hasan of sending data via email to his headquarters.

In a conveniently leaked statement by the investigators, the report further said

Mehedi was also learnt to have disclosed that he incited garments workers to press for their demands and held several secret meetings with a section of garment workers’ leaders.

The problem with the above leak is many folds. Over the past few months, we have seen many such confessions that was either recounted or was said to be given under duress. Now how does someone “incite” someone to press for their demands? How is it having meetings with garment workers’ leaders a crime? Was their cash transfer involved? But what are the chances?

(more…)

A regular reader has informed us about this initiative. Use your multidisciplinary knowledge set to propose a practicable way to preserve the delta we call home (and go in the prize to win €10,000).

A combination of ideas from different disciplines could contribute to a sustainable development of the Deltas of the world. These could cover (combinations of) areas such as Water, Nature, Mobility, Agriculture, Energy, Health, Housing and/or Recreation.

We are in particular seeking creative, innovative and multi-disciplinary solutions. But solutions should also have a scientific base and be realistic (let’s face it… we will probably not all move to Mars in the coming decades).

The DeltaCompetition calls upon (bachelors, masters en PhD) students from all over the world and from all relevant disciplines to prepare – together or individually - a paper and submit this to our internationally acclaimed Jury.

The Jury will award two prices: €10,000 for the best paper submitted by a group of students; and €5,000 for the best individual paper.

View the endangered deltas of the world in the Google Earth tour “Endangered Deltas”. For that, you need Google Earth installed on your computer. Scroll down in the menu ‘places’, click on ‘endangered deltas’ and press the ’start’ button.

Details: http://deltacompetition.ddg42.tamtam.nl/en-us/Pages/Home.aspx

Looking at the discussion around last week’s “BD Investment Conference” in NY, there appears to be an active discussion going on among NRBs, especially fund managers, I-bankers, Analysts, etc as to whether CTG/Army/State Of Emergency/Possibly Delayed Polls (beyond Dec 08) is improving investment scenario in BD.

Reasons:
1. BD tagged as one of the hottest “Emerging Markets” (EM in fund lingo). Goldman Sachs named BD as one of the N-11 countries (next 11 to emerge after BRICs). JP Morgan identifying BD as one of the “next 5″. Telco analysts named BD as one of the hottest telco markets among developing countries (current subs 30mm+)
2. The simultaneous rise of multiple funds dedicated to BD investing, who are simultaneously an indicator, and an enabler of “bullish on BD” scenarios
3. Impending Grameenphone IPO in June (or later), planned AKTel and BanglaLink IPOs later; merger rumors between Telcos;
4. General heat around EM category, and the search for the “untapped EMs” (for fund returns maximization, your biggest bang for buck is an EM that no one has spotted yet– get in cheap and reap max returns) (more…)

We are reposting the following article that we posted three months ago on what to do with the cartoonist. The judgement on the detention order is due out tomorrow. We are urging all of you to send this urgent appeal to the chief adviser TODAY urging him to to take into consideration Arif’s background and good character, in particular that he has clearly expressed regret for any untoward offence caused, and the facts and circumstances in which he has been accused and imprisoned, and to intervene to withdraw all pending detention orders and case (CR Case no . 2298 of 2007 filed by OC Jane Alam) against him and to ensure his immediate release.

It has been well over four months that Arifur Rahman, the cartoonist formerly employed by the Prothom Alo, has been in jail. It is more in sorrow than anger we note that in this time, no newspaper has run a supportive editorial. Some consider it a ‘dead’ issue, subsumed by the latest political soap opera. Others think, it’s not prudent to upset the delicately poised political situation by supporting Arif. Mridul Chowdhury argues that the government should act basing its decisions on the common thread that created Bangladesh and initiated Islam: tolerance and justice.

(more…)

Almer’s era defining piece from today’s New Age.

I write, therefore I am. Every time you tell me not to, I will tell you back.

I write, therefore I am
by Zayd Almer Khan

I write. That’s what I do. You tell me not to. Repeatedly, like a broken record. Sometimes rather coyly, sometimes cajolingly, sometimes more firmly. But always with a tone of authority, even superiority in your voice – entirely false in their assumptions as those assertions might be. You try to intimidate me, when in fact you are intimidated by my words. The words I write. Because my words are written out of conviction. Conviction in democracy. Conviction in the people’s ability to decide for themselves. Conviction in the electorate’s right to choose its own steward. Conviction in the absolute necessity of the steward to be accountable to the electorate at all times. Conviction against autocracy. For you are autocracy.

I speak. That’s what I do. I speak my mind. You tell me not to. No coyness here, because you think I’m vulnerable, my licence to speak cancelled by you with the stroke of a stooge’s (sorry, judge’s) pen. But in fact it is you who is vulnerable to my words. The words I speak. Because my words are spoken out of conviction. Conviction in justice. Conviction in fairness. Conviction in rule of law. Conviction in due process. Conviction against persecution, however ‘noble’ the motive. For you are the persecutor.

(more…)

What impact will BTRC’s punitive measures against mobile telcos for VoIP have on business confidence? BTRC announced today a new $25 million fine against Grameenphone (the second such fine against them in six months; as well as previous huge fines against Banglalink & Aktel) and court cases against preceding & current Grameenphone executives:
- Former GP officials: CEOs Eric Aas and Ola Ree, Technical Director Thor Randhaug, Chief Technical Officer Yogesh Sanjeev Malik, and Sales and Marketing Director Mehboob Chowdhury.
- Incumbent GP officials: Regulatory & Corporate Affairs Director Khalid Hasan, CTO Md Shafiqul Islam, Sales & Marketing Director Kafil HS Muyeed, CFO Md Aril Al Islam, Head of Revenue Assurance Espen Wiig Warendroph. (more…)

During my visit to Bangladesh, I sent this update about media to my colleagues

Amid the stale format of talks shows and old hogs, there are some spectacular young jounalists who are changing the way tv reporting talkshows are done. This is the most refreshing change and indeed gives me a lot of hope about the media. TV journalists like Kazi Jesin and their no holds barred approach is definitely something to keep an eye out for. Among the e channels, Ekushey TV is leading the pack in this. Ekushey TV seems to have targetted the youth as an audience and the reporting style , the get ups and the people who do the shows all are reflected in it. Also it has been helped by the shutdown of CSB channel, it seems as this is also focusing a news show driven approach in its programming.
Ekushey has restarted with a fresh and enthusiastic bunch and other channels which are name heavy are starting to look stale. The flagship program in Ekushey is of course their live news show at 9.30 pm where they directly take questions from the public as well and bring in young journalists to grill the participants. This program has accountability written all over it.

I was referring to the program Ekushey Shomoy and Ekushey Raat - the two flagship programs of ETV. Irene Khan just did one live tv show where she took questions from the public in Bangladesh during her trip and that was with Ekushey Shomoy and it was a spectacular show with some very tough questions for her. I saw the recording from the studio. The set up was really interesting considering it was a Bangladeshi show. A crew of online editors carefully monitor the show and any time an issue comes up that needs follow up or further challenge, they call in via phone or via sattelite link up another expert who directly challenges the participant. In very little time, it was slowly becoming the must see tv for all for the sheer courage of the topics and its ability to push the boundaries. Yours truly also took part in a live Ekushey Raat.

Today, however, AFP is carrying the news that these two programs have now been banned.

DHAKA (AFP) — Bangladesh’s army-backed emergency government has banned two popular live political talk shows, the private satellite television channel ETV said.

“The information ministry handed us a written order saying that we cannot telecast out our live talk shows any more,” a senior ETV official told AFP.

The two prime time shows, off the air since Thursday, hosted political and civil society leaders and took questions from viewers and journalists on political, economic, social and cultural issues.

(more…)

Behind every big dictators and puppets, there lies a “Great” nation!

Photo: AP

Reviled by many Pakistanis for temporarily suspending the constitution last fall and throwing hundreds or possibly thousands of lawyers and political opponents in jail, Pervez Musharraf nevertheless felt free to offer human-rights advice to a fellow regional leader in Davos.

Read this stunning piece of news on knowledge transfer from Musharraf to Fakhruddin here
(hat tip: RS)

(more…)

New Age Editorial Today:

Editorial
Lessons to learn from Thai army’s admitted misadventure

It is hardly surprising that the military council, which ousted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006 in a coup, accusing him of corruption and irreverence towards the Thai monarchy, and governed the country for the past two years, has proved entirely inept at running state affairs. So much so, in fact, that the council has promised that ‘there will be no more coups,’ as a Thaksin-backed political party prepares to assume office after the country’s recent elections, according to a report published in New Age on Wednesday. What is surprising, however, is that the Thai military has acquired the wisdom to recognise that ‘the military should not be involved in politics’ as the council’s spokesperson told reporters on Tuesday.

(more…)

Shahidul Alam on Rule Of Law:

To convict and then provide presidential pardon, is an act of self-deification by the government.

Rahnuma Ahmed on Image Warfare:

The publication of the first photograph, the censored one, created disorder in the world of images.

Munni Saha’s very moving anniversary tribute to the founder of Daily Star and Ekushey TV A S Mahmud.

“When I bring out the amazingly inspirational stories of some of the most amazing common men and women of Bangladesh, I imagine in the corner of that table Abu Sayeed Mahmud is smiling — bringing forward the paperweight that has the word “THINK” scribed in it in front of me and telling me “Just think what a country of amazing possibility Bangaldesh is.” I often think of him and wonder in my career life, would I not meet another person like him whose wisdom and philosophy would shadow me on every good thing I do?”

Read this worthwhile write up here

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate release:
22nd January 2007

Bangladesh: Pardons of teachers not enough

Amnesty International welcomed the pardon and release of three Dhaka university professors but said they should never have been charged in the first place.

Amnesty International considered the Dhaka University lectures to be prisoners of conscience and had been calling for their immediate and unconditional release. The professors were held without bail since last August on charges of inciting violence.

“Charges should never have been brought against the Rajshahi and Dhaka University professors in the first place,” said Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

“The arrest and prosecution of the Rajshahi and Dhaka University professors are illustrative of the manner in which emergency regulations are open to abuse in cases involving the right to peaceful protest.”

“The restrictions imposed through the Emergency Powers Rules (EPRs) exceed what is permissible under international law. The current rules and restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association are too widely framed and are being selectively applied.”

Amnesty International calls on the Caretaker Government to urgently review and amend the restrictions on rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association invoked under the state of emergency.

For further information, please see www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/one-year-human-rights-bangladesh-under-state-emergency-20080110

William Little
Asia Pacific Press Officer
Amnesty International
International Secretariat
1 Easton Street
London WC1X 0DW
+44 (0) 207 413 5810
+44 (0) 7904 398 285
william.little@amnesty.org

Gen Matin missing out on column space generating controversy starts out an old bostapocha debate.

‘I said it earlier that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the architect of Bangladesh, but former president Ziaur Rahman declared its independence…. There is no doubt about it,’ Matin said, answering reporters at the home ministry

But guess what? You won’t have to take his or any BAL-BNP leaders’ word for it. Thanks to the power of documentation, check out the history by yourself brought to you by Mash and Jalal at your finger tips. Mash and Jalal via blog have done what millions of Bangladeshis could not do all these years.

http://www.docstrangelove.com/2008/01/09/swadhin-bangla-betar-kendro-and-bangladeshs-declaration-of-independence/

One of the biggest casualties of post 1/11 scenarios is the loss of a space for a healthy dialog without getting labelled. It seems now people are very afraid to take any firm stand on any issue for the fear of being labeled. The civil society in Dhaka has been broken up into multiple brackets. Without packaging people up in multiple labels, it seems not many people are able to be engaged in evidence based criticisms and arguments. Say a good thing about the government, you are automatically branded as army-r dalal. Talk about due process for political leaders, you are branded as someone who wants to go back to pre 1-11 days. Say that religion based politics should not be banned for the sake of democracy, and you are branded as a rajakar/jamati. We talk about partisan politics ruining our country but look at the people in the chattering class. Are they engaged in anything different? Sad thing is that some of the people who are making such statements are very much capable in bringing up the nuances in the debates. Then why are they not doing that?

(more…)

Long time ago, in a galaxy far far away…

There was a Republic where the elected governments actively sought the counsel of the a group of wise beings. The Council of these wise beings consisted of the Jedi — beings who are well-versed in the use of the Force. For a thousand generations, the Jedi kept peace in the Galactic Republic. Then came the Clone Wars, end of the Republic and the rise of the Empire, and resistance against that empire.

Events in that ancient, far away galaxy have a lot of lessons for the present day choices faced in a country that is all-too-close to our hearts. The false promises being made in Bangladesh today, of the council of the wise and a sustained period of stability echo the Republic and the Empire — both fundamentally anti-democratic states.

(More at Mukti)